Envelope patch applying mechanism



Feb. 10, 1953 A. NOVICK ENVELOPE men APPLYING macmmxsu 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1950 INVENTQR. Abra/1am Nor/ck as Huh I mumnum 1m Qiam; @0167 A T TOR/V Feb. 10, 1953 A. NOVICK ENVELOPE PATCH APPLYING MECHANISM 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1950 IN VEN TOR. Abra/mm Nor/ck II IIIQIIIIII t Feb. 10, 1953 A. NOVICK 2,627,792

ENVELOPE PATCH APPLYING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 30, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 Had INVENTOR. Abra/1am lVow'c/r A T TORNE Y5 Feb. 10, 1953 A. NOVICK ,7

ENVELOPE PATCH APPLYING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 30, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.7

INVENTOR. Abra/2am Nor/2* A T TORNE Y5 Feb. 10, 1953 A. NOVICK ENVELOPE PATCH APPLYING MECHANISM 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 30, 1950 5 1. ww {N mmt Abra/mm Now'c/r I ATTORNEYS '2 Feb. 10, 1953 A. NOVICK ENVELOPE PATCH APPLYING MECHANISM l5 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 30, 1950 INVENTOR. Abra/1am A/ow'c/r M Ma-fi any, A T TORNE Y5 Feb. 10, 1953 A. NOVICK ENVELOPE PATCH APPLYING MECHANIFSM 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 30, 1950 Clamp (am' lfmfe Cam INVENTOR. Abra/7am lVow'c/r Feb. 10, 1953 A. NOVICK ENVELOPE PATCH APPLYING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 30, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 w h I INVENTOR. Abraham War/ck A T TORNE Y3 Feb. 10, 1953 A. NOVICK ENVELOPE PATCH APPLYING MECHANISM 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 30, 1950 INVENTOQ. Abraham Nor/ck MM" M. T T A Feb. 10, 1953 A. NoVlcK ENVELOPE PATCH APPLYING MECHANISM l3 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Aug. 30, 1950 $llm INVENTOR. Abra/1am A'aw'c/r \mrm.

ark W ATTORNEYS Feb. 10, 1953 A. NOVlCK- ENVELOPE PATCH APPLYING MECHANISM 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Aug. 30, 1950 m mo N N R m m ma m M Feb. 10, 1953 A. NOVICK ENVELOPE PATCH APPLYING MECHANISM Filed Au 50, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 15 IN VEN TOR. Abra/7am Novic/r Patented Feb. 10, 1953 ENVELOPE PATCH APPLYING "ME CHANI SM Abraham Novick, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to F. L. Smithe Machine 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York Application August 30, 1950, Ser ia'l Nm 182,385

12 Claims.

This invention relates to window envelope-making machinery, and more particularly to .patch applying mechanism which is adapted to cut patches and apply them to successive envelope blanks as the blanks are-advanced at uniform speed.

An important objector the invention is to'prov'ide for-the application of patches in amachine of the plunger type as disclosed, for example, in Letters Patent of the United States #2365211, granted to me on December 19, 1944 for Envelope Machine.

In the machine of the patent, envelope blanks are fed in timed relation past sealing fla and bottom flap gumming mechanism and thence to an envelope forming plunger. In the machine chosen to illustrate the present invention the patch is applied after the blank has passed the gumming mechanism and before it has reached the plunger.

While the interposition of the patch applying mechanism necessarily involves an increased spacing of the plunger from the gummin mechanism and some extension f the blank path, it is important that the patch applier be provided in such a way as to require the minimum enlargement of the machine.

To this end, it is a feature of the invention that a patch mechanism is provided which feeds a patch web in from the side over the blank conveyor, above and across the path of blank travel for severance, and which then carries the severed patch in a plane at right angles to the direction of patch web advance for application to'the blank. By this arrangement the patch mechanism can be made to occupy substantially no more space lengthwise of the blank conveyor than the width of the applying roller It is a further feature of the invention that the patch material is gummed before severance, and that the patch applier thereafter picks up and carries forward each severed patch by suction alone. To enable the patch to be picked up accurately and dependably it is an important point that the patch applier, in the form of a sector; is brought to rest instantaneously for picking up the patch but is caused to travel in contact with the blank at the uniform speed of the blank.

It is a further feature that means is provided for applying patch gum directly to the envelope blank along the blank margins bordering the ends of the window area, in combination with means for applying patch gum directly to the CJI stripes which extend in the direction'of -blank travel being impressed by rolling contact onto the blanks, and the stripes which run lengthwise of the patch web being impressed by rolling contactonto the web.

It is an object of the invention to provide mechanism for feeding out different predetermined appropriate lengths of patch web according to the work requirements, for severing each patch length fed out, and for applying the successive patches to the traveling blanks, all in timed relation to the feeding of the blanks.

It is still another object to provide a patchmechanism in which the patch material-is fed out lengthwise of the patch to be severedand the severed patch is then advanced widthwise for'ap plication to the blank.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing forming-part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view'of'a patchedenvelope blank;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation,

partly in section, showing comprehensively the portion of the machine with which the invention is'concerned;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View with some parts broken away, the section being taken upon the line 5-5 of Figure 18, lookinginthe direction of the arrows;

Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary view'swhich' when laid end to end show .partly in section-and partly in elevation the actual construction of the patching, feeding, cutting and applying mechanism, the section being taken upon the line B -*6 of Figure 8 looking in the direction of the-arrows;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing substantially the mechanism of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view take'n upon the section line 9-9 of Figurel' l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken uponthe line lfi-l El of Figure 9, looking in the direction of the-arrows;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken uponth'e line H! I of Figure 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line i2l2 of Figure 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, looking toward the right hand end of Fig. '7, showing particularly the patching mechanism and the plunger which immediately follows Figure 14 is a sectional view taken upon the staggered section line l4l4 of Figures 6 and 7 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figures 15, 16 and 17 are detail views of three cams which are utilized in controlling the feeding of the patch strip and the cutting of individual patches from it;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view in sectional elevation, the section being taken upon the line l8i8 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 19 is a fragmentary View in elevation showing details of the gripper and gripper control mechanism;

Figure 20 is a fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line 2B20 of Figure 19, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line 2l2l of Figure 19, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 22 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing particularly the cutting knife and the clamp associated with the knife;

Figure 23 is a sectional view, partly broken away, the section being taken upon the line 2323 of Figure 22, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 24 is a fragmentary plan view showing the mechanism illustrated in Figure 22;

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary view showing in front elevation, but partly in section, a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 7;

Figure 26 is a sectional view taken upon the staggered section line 2626 of Figure 25 looking in the direction of the arrows;

' Figure 27 is a fragmentary view in elevation, partly broken away, showing a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 7; and

Figure 28 is a sectional view taken upon the line 28'28 of Figure 27, lookin in the direction of the arrows.

The machine of Patent #2,365,211 is generally illustrated in Figure 4 with the present patching mechanism added. The patching mechanism is diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. As an aid to a general understanding of the machine and the improvement, the mechanism will first be briefly described without attention to detail.

Window envelope blanks of the kind illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, but without patches, are fed from a stack I (Fig. 4) which is carried upon supports 2. The supports are inclined, to maintain the stack at a slight inclination to the horizontal. The blanks are removed singly from the lower end of the stack by separator mechanism 3 as-referred to in Patent #2365211 and more fully described in Patent #2,2 11,474. The blanks are withdrawn from the stack at uniform time intervals and are transmitted in a generally downward direction by belt conveyor mechanism 4 which runs continuously. The blanks are delivered by the conveyor mechanism 4 to inert guide means designated generally by the reference numeral which define an arcuate path for the blanks. g

Rotary pusher means 6 are caused to traverse thearcuate path defined by the guide means 5 and to engage each envelope blank at the junction of the side flaps l with the sealing flap 8 of the blank, to push the blank forward in accurately timed and aligned relation to frictional conveyor mechanism 9 which defines a blank feeding path tangent to the arcuate path defined by the guide means 5. Th conveyor 9 desirably comprises a pair of parallel belts if), the upper stretches of which run over bars {0a. The belts act upon the side flaps l of the blanks and outside the bounds of the body portions of the blanks. Holddown rollers H opposed to the belts l0 cause the blanks to be advanced by the conveyor mechanism 9 past a gumming device which comprises a bed roller 13 and a pair of gumming segments IA and I5.

The gumming segments 14 and 15 are mounted upon a common shaft 16, and hence the peripheries of the segments travel in a common circular path. One of the segments [4 is caused to apply the bottom flap gum 87 to a blank and the other segment i5 is caused to apply the seal flap gum 18 to a blank. These gums are of different character and hence provision is made for causing one kind of gum to be delivered to the segment l4 and another kind of gum to be delivered to the segment :5. Briefly, this is accomplished by providing gum supply means l9, including a transfer roller 2:) to deliver gum to the segment 14 and gum supply means 2! including a transfer roller 22 for delivering gum to the segment 15.

Provision is made of mechanism (not shown) for oscillating the gum transfer rollers 20 and 22 in timed relation with the rotation of the gum segments id and 55, causing the transfer roller 22 to engage the segment 15 but to escape engagement with the segment Hi and causing the transfer roller 28 to engage the segment 14 but to escape engagement with the segment Hi.

The conveyor mechanism 9 acts continuously and unidirectionally to carry the blanks frictionally past the gumming mechanism (2 and into position to be folded by plunger mechanism 24 which comprises a folding plunger 25 and a conventional folding box partially indicated at 2%. The folding box is disposed between the belts i0 and beneath the plane of the upper or active stretches of the belts l8, and the plunger 25 reciprocates into and out of the folding box, delivering the partially folded blanks onto a conventional trap (not shown) for the completion of the folding operations. The present invention is not concerned with further details of the folding and drying of the envelopes, and hence such further folding means may be of any suitable and conventional construction, as disclosed, for example, in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,631,146.

Between the gumming device 12 and the plunger 25 provision is made of patching mechanism 21.

. The invention has to do with the patching mechanism per se and the combination of the patching mechanism with other parts of the machine. The patching mechanism has been largely omitted in Figure 4 in order to avoid confusion. Figure 4 does, however, illustrate a suction patch applier 28 and a cooperating bed roller 29. If the machine is viewed from the rear along the conveyor 9 as in Figs. 1 and 6, a supply reel 36 of patch material carried by a core or roller 3| upon a shaft 32 will be seen at the left of the conveyor, as illustrated in Figure 1. The patch strip or web 33 is drawn ofi the reel by feed rolls 34 and '35. A gum container 36 -supplies -gum *through a pickup roller 31 to transfer discs 38. The discs 38*apply -the gumto the-longitudinal*margins "of the patch web 33, thediscs 38 actingin opposition to the roller 35. Feed'rol1er34 also acts in opposition to the roller '35 but is sufiiciently narrow and is so located as to escape engagement with the gum'stripes. Slack take-up-rollers 39 (Figs. 6 and -8) carried at the free end of apivoted arm dilride-t-he-web 33 toprevent objectionable-slack. "The arm-40 is -pivotally supported on a shaft "40a and is held in place axially'of the shaft 4011 by collars-49b. The'web 33 is drawn forward a patch lengt at a time by a reciprocatinggripper AI (Fig. -'7) Which'is carried by an arr-n42 fast-on arecip- 'rocating slide bar-'43.- The slidebaris-reciprocatedi'by an oscillating arm M; being connected to*the arm through'a link. The gripper '4! isillustrated in Figure l asnear 'itsright hand limit of movement, the movable jaw-d6 having 'been moved to its open'position and a clamping finger 41 having been rnoved'down against a stationary "platform 43 to clamp the web 33 preparatory to the cutting of a patch --by a knife 49. a

the leading 'end of the-Web which is held between the finger 4Iand the platform 48. As

the gripper seizesthe web, the clamping finger .M ismovedto a releasing position'so that the web may againbe drawn forward a patch length as the gripper "moves toward he *right.- The cycle of operations described is' repeated indefinitely in, timed relation with theadvancement of the blanks.

Since the blank feeding and gumming mechanisms and the plunger "mechanism'are all old no further and more detailed description and explanation; of these'parts is thought necessary.

, Thejpatching mechanismwill; howeverybecom- 'pletelydescribed and explained.

fAhorizontal plate"50"(Figs. 6, 7 and 13) forms part of the machine frame "and carries all the 'principal parts of the machine," and is .in' turn supported", upon. legs 1 (notshown). '50 supports longitudinally extending. upright The plate plates orbrackets 52'and53 which, in addition to other functions carry most of the patch applying mechanism.

A'bracket 3 is attached to the plate 55 and includes a downwardly extending arm'fifi on which the reel supporting shaft 32 is mounted. Transversely extending upright plates 56 and 56a (Fig. 8) form parts of the bracket 53. The plate 56 serves to support'the gum receptacles, the feeding and gumming rollers associated therewith and certain gearing and other members which form parts of the patching mechanism. The plate 56a assists in supporting the feed roller 35.

A shaft 51, revolubly mounted at one end in the frame member 53, and revolubly mounted at the opposite end through the'medium of a hollow shaft- 58 in the framemember 52," is "'driven'through a chain-59 and a sproc'ket '*59a,

and-serves in turn to drive the feeding and gumming rollers of the Web-=33.- Y

The shaft 51 has fast on one-:of its ends abev eled gear 60 which, through-a'meshing beveled gear 6| drives a shaft 62. The shaft 62 has f'ast upon it a sprocket 63. A chain 64" transmits the drive from the sprocket B3 to a sprocket65 which is fast upon a shaft- 66. The feed roller 35 around which the web 33 runs is'also made fast upon the shaft 66. The shaft fifi has secured upon it a gear '61 which drives a'gear '68 rotatable upon a shaft-69 secured to the plate 56 (Figs. 6 and 8). The-gear68, inturn, drives a gear 69:: fast on a shaft ill. The gum pick-up roll 31 is fixed on the shaftlfl, and is arranged to deliver gum from the receptacle 36 to the rollers 38. The shaft '10 also has fast'upon it a gear llwhich drives a gear 72 fast on a shaft 73. The shaft 73 also has fast upon it the gumming discs 'or rollers 38, whereby gum is applied to the opposite--side margins of the web.

A shaft 15 is carried bymckingarmslfiyone at each end. The'arms are mounted onshafts Tl. One of these-shafts Tl is supported in "the plate 58, and the other is supported in the-plate 56a (Fig. 8). The shaft l5'hasfast upon-ita gear is and the-feed-rcller 34. The gear "l8 meshes with the gears 61. The arms '16 arei'each drawn down by a tension coilspringls'to-maintain the gear 18 in mesh "with the ge'arBI and the roller 34' in bearing relation to the'roller' 35. Adjustable stop screws 16a are carried one on each arm 16 to limitthe movement of theiroller 34 toward the ro1ler'35 so as"'to"avoid"undue pressure on the strip 33. Thearms'lfi'camhowever, be swung upward when desired to" separate the rollers and thereby facilitate 'the" threading through of a fresh web 33.

The gum receptacle'36 is'made fast upon a supporting arm BlL'WhiGh arm is rockably supported upon a shaft'sl, fast on plate 56. A'tension coil spring 82 urges the gum receptacle in a clockwise direction and causes a tail'portion of the arm 'normally to bear against a stop screw 83. The rollers 31 and 38 and their supporting shafts l9 and $9 are'oarried by the gum receptacle. Rockingof' the receptacleina counter-clockwise direction against the force'of the spring 82 carries the rollers'38 out of bearing relationito the roller 35, without disturbing the gear connections to the" roller'33- The stop screw 33 is threaded through a stationary block 84 on the plate 56 and'may be adjusted to secure the desired 'normal"'re1ation" ofthe rollers .38

and 35.

A scraper blade 85 is provided-forcontrolling the thickness of the film of gum carried. by the roller 3? to the rollers 38. The'scraper blade is made fast upon a shaft 83, which alsohas fast upon it an arm '81; A tension coil spring 88 connected between the arm" 87 and a'pin '89 fast upon the gum receptacle 3. 5, urges the scraper blade 85 in a counter-clockwise direction. Counter-clockwise movement of the scraper blade 85 is limited, however, by a stop screw 90 which'is threaded through the arm 81 and normally bears against an upper surface of the gum'receptacle 33. The web 33, after passing around the roller 35, is passed beneath the web riding rollers 39 which are carried by the rocker arm-4il and thence upwardalong a stationary guide 9| -=supported on tends *ontothe platform 4-8 and; with thepartsi-n (Fig. 23) in its rear face which fits upon a rigid supporting bar 95. A plate 96 is secured to the block by screws 91 and extends across the channel so that a closed guideway is formed in which the bar 95 is received. A set screw 98, threaded through the plate 95, may be tightened against the bar 95 to secure the block 93 and the mechanism carried by it in desired adjusted position.

.The block 93 has a bracket 99a secured to its face by screws 99b. The bracket 99a includes an extension 99, upon which the shaft 92 for the clamping finger 41 is fixed. The finger 41 is held in place against a shoulder by means of a head IOI on the stub shaft 92. A spring I99 normally holds the clamping finger 41 against the web 33 on the platform 48.

The block 93 has formed in its forward face a vertically extending channel I02 (Figs. 22, 23

and 24) in which a knife carrying plunger I03 is slidably mounted. Retaining blocks I04 and I35 overlap the outer sides of the channel I02 and are held in place by screws I05. A compression coil spring ml is interposed between the plung- 'er I03 and the platform 48 for urging the plunger upward. The plunger includes an extension I08 to which the knife blade 49 is secured by countersunk rivets I09.

The knife blade 49 is shaped as illustrated in .Fig. 23 with the edge sloping upward symmetrically from a center point. With this arrangement the web is cut progressively from the center outward in both directions as the blade descends, the extreme margins of the web being cut through last and substantially at the same instant.

The upper end of the plunger I03 is arranged to be engaged and thrust downward by a crank arm III which is made fast upon a shaft H2. The shaft H2 is rotatively mounted in an ear II3 of the block 93. The shaft H2 is secured against longitudinal movement relative to the block, the hub of arm III being made fast upon the shaft upon one side of the ear I I3 and a col- .lar I I4 being made fast upon the shaft at the opposite side of the ear H3.

The operating arm 94 of the clamping finger 41 is arranged to be engaged and thrust downward, in order to lift the finger away from the platform 48, by a crank II5 (Figs. '7, 14, 22, 23 and 24) which is fast upon a rock shaft I IS. The rock shaft I I6 is pivotally supported in a hearing In of the extension 99, and is held against longitudinal movement relative to the bearing by collars H8 and H9 which are made fast to the shaft at opposite sides of the bearing.

The opposite ends of shafts H2 and II6 are rockably supported in a block I20 (Figs. 5, 6 and 18) which is secured upon the bar 95 near the left hand end thereof as the parts are viewed in Figs. 6 and '7. The block I20 is secured to the bar 95 by screws I2I which are passed through the bar and threaded into the block. An actuating arm I23 for rocking the shaft H2 is formed as an integral extension of a sleeve I24. The sleeve and the shaft are formed with keyways for receiving a key I25 through which rocking 8 movement of the arm I23 is transmitted to the shaft.

The hub portion of the arm I23 forms a shouldered enlargement of the sleeve which bears against one side of the block I20. The sleeve extends through the block I20 and projects beyond the block at its smaller end. A collar I20 is secured upon the sleeve by means of a screw I2'I whose body extends through the sleeve and into the key I25 but terminates short of engagement with the shaft I I2. A screw I28 is threaded through the hub portion of the arm I23 and passes into the key I25 but terminates short of engagement with the shaft II2. With the arrangement referred to the sleeve I24 is secured against axial movement relative to the block I20 but is free to rock and to impart rocking movement to the shaft H2. The shaft II2 can, however, be adjusted axially with the block 93 and relative to the block I20.

The shaft H6 is similarly supported in the block I20 and is similarly connected for actuation by a crank arm I29 which is formed integral with a sleeve I30. The sleeve I30 and shaft IIB are formed with keyways in which a key I3I is received for transmitting rocking movement of the sleeve to the shaft. A screw I32 is threaded through the hub portion of the arm I29 and extends into the key, but terminates short of engagement with the shaft HE. A screw I33 is threaded through a collar I34 at the opposite side of the block I20 and passes through the sleeve and into the key, but terminates short of engagement with the shaft.

The block I20 is formed with a guide channel I35 (Fig. 18) in which the rod 43 is slidably mounted. The rod is confined in the channel by a cover plate I36 secured to the bracket I20. A further block I31 (Figs. 7 and 13) is made fast upon the supporting bar by screws I38. The block I3! is also formed with a guide channel I39 for the rod 43, the channel being covered on its open side by a fixed plate I40.

The gripper carrier 42 (Figs. '7, 13, 19 and 20) is formed with an upwardly facin channel I4I which fits upon the rod 43. A screw I42 is screwed through a bored and threaded extension I43 of the gripper carrier 42 into engagement with an upper beveled surface of the rod 43 to clamp the gripper carrier securely in adjusted position on the rod. The gripper carrier 42 extends downward and has its lower end offset to the left to provide the lower or fixed gripper jaw I44. Near the lower end the carrier is divided to provide spaced side portions I45 and I46 in which a pivot pin I4! is mounted for supporting the movable jaws 46.

A tension coil spring I48 connected to the carrier 42 and to a tail portion I49 of the movable jaw 49 tends to maintain the movable jaw 46 in its closed position. A rock shaft I50 which is rockably mounted in the blocks I20 and I31 (see Figs. 6 and 7), has fast upon it an arm I5I upon which is fixed a bar I52 that extends parallel to the direction of movement of the rod 43. The bar I52 is engageable with a roller I53 which is carried by the tail I49, throughout the entire operative range of movement of the roller. An actuating rocker arm I54 (Figs. 5, 6 and 18) includes a hub portion I55 which is secured upon the shaft I50 by a pin I50 and which engages the left hand side of the block I20. When the shaft I50 is rocked in a direction to depress the bar I52, the movable gripper jaw 46 is held open, but when the bar is raised to a position like that illustrated in Fig. 19 the movable gripper jaw is permitted to close.

The shaft I56 extends through the knife-carrying extension I68 of the plunger I03. The extension I08 is accordingly provided with a vertic'ally extending slot I51 (Fig. 23) so that the extension I68 can reciprocate vertically to actuate the knife without encountering interference by the shaft.

The mechanism for actuating the reciprocating pull-out rod 43 comprises a cam I58 (Figs. 6, 8 and 18) which is fast upon shaft 62. The cam I58 engages a follower roller I59 carried by a crank I60 which is pivotally mounted upon a pivot stud I6I on the plate 56. The crank is int'egral with the arm 44 to which is connected a return spring I6Ila. Consequently, the arm 44 through which reciprocation is imparted to the pull-out rod 43 is actuated in one direction by the cam I58 and'is returned by the spring I 60a. The link 45 is connected to the arm 44 through a pivot block I62a, and to the rod 43 by a block I621). The pivot block I62a is adapted to be clamped in any desired position along a slot I62 formed in the arm 44, and to provide a pivot for one end of the link 45.

Adjustment of the pivot block I52a along the arm 44 changes the extent of movement of the rod 43 but does not change the timing of the rod relative to the other parts. That is to say, the rod 43 reaches its left hand and right hand limits of movement at the same points in the rotation of the shafts 51 and 62 regardless of the adjustment selected. Adiustment of the pivot block I62a is, however. likely to affect the position of the left hand limit of movement of the gripper in an undes red manner. This can be compensated for by backing out the screw I42 (see Figure 20), shiftin the gripper carrier 42 relative to the rod 43. and again ti htening the screw I42. Adjustment is elfected bv adius in the pivot block I 620: in accordance with the len th of patch desired. and by thereafter ad usting the gripper carrier to secure the left hand limit of movement desired.

The s a t has fast u on it three cams I63, I 4 and I65. F gs. 6. 14. 15. 16 and 17. The cam I63 aotuates the rock sh t I I2 throu h which the knife is con rolled. The cam I64 act ates the rock shaft I56 throu h which t e movable gr pp r i'aw is co trol ed. The cam I65 actuates the ro k h t H6 through which the clamp fin er 41 is controlled.

The cam I 53 acts u on a follower roller I66 which is carried. by a bell crank I61. rockably mounted upon a shaft I68 secured to the frame plate 53. The other arm of bell crank I61 is pivotally connected throu h a l nk I69 to the actuatin arm I23 of the shaft H2.

The cam I64 acts u on a follower roller I19 carr ed by a bell crank I1I which is also rockably mounted u on he shaft I68. The other arm I1Ia of the bell crank I1I is connected throu h a l k I12 with the actuating arm I54 of the shaft I54,

The cam I65 acts upon a follower roller I13 carried by a bell crank I14 which is also rockably mounted upon the shaft I68. The other arm I14a of the bell crank I14 is connected through a link I15 with the actuating arm I29 of the shaft H6.

The contours of the cams I63, I64 and I65 are illustrated in Figures 17, 16 and 15, respectively. These figures also show the relative angular positions of the cams upon the shaft 51 and the relations of the camsto their followers. Each of the cams is made in two sections, the sections being clamped together upon the shaft by screws, as indicated.

u The cycle of operations of the cam controlled parts may advantageously be recapitulated at this point. With the parts as illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 14, the movable gripper jaw 46 has just closed on the Web, the clamping finger 41 is just ready to be released, and the gripper carrier 42 is in its extreme left hand position. As the gripper travels toward the right in Fig."7, it pulls the web with it until it reaches its right hand limit of movement. As it does so. the clamping finger 41 becomes effective and the knife starts cutting through the web. As the cut is completed the movable gripper jaw 46 is moved to open position by the descent of the bar 152.

At this instant,.the severed patch is pickedup by the patch applier 28. The grippercarrier then starts its return movement toward-the left;

the movable jaw 46 being kept open until-the carrier 42 has reached its left hand limit of move-- ment. At that point the bar I52 is'li'fte'd tocause the movable jaw to close upon the web, and the clamp finger 41 is raised in order to permit the web to be pulled forward again by the gripper. The point should be noted that the platform 48' is formed with a notch I16 (see Figures '7, 20 and 24) which may be entered by the fixed gripper Jaw.

. It has been mentioned that the suction'patch applier 28 comes to rest foran instant iust asit takes over control of the severed patch, The mechanism for producing this result is best shown in Figures '1, 13. 25, 2'1 and 28. The constantly running shaft 51 extends through the hollow shaft 58 wh ch shaft is romtah v sup or ed in the frame member 52. A collar I 1 made fast upon the shaft 51 b a set screw I18 revents movement of the hollow shaft 58 toward the left. Just beyon the o posite end of the h l ow haft 5Ran arm I19 is secured u on the shaft 51 b means of a pin I86. and a set scre IRI. The hub of the arm I19 prevents movement ofthe hollow shaft 58 toward the r ht. 7

It also c nst tutes an element hrou h which the shaft58 is dr ven t variab e s d frnm the constant speed shaft 51. The arm I19 has rockingly mounted upon it b a in I620, a, hell crank lever I82. One arm of t e 1ev=ris formed as a gear se m nt I93 le the other arm carries a, cam follower IM. Th ear se ment I 3 meshes with a gear se ment I whose hub is formed as a split collar and clamped upon the hollow shaft 54 by means of a screw I 86. The cam follower I84 rides in a cam track I81 of a stationary cam I88. The cam I88 is mounted on the frame member 52, being attached by screws I89, eachof which is surrounded by a spacing sleeve I90.

The maior port on of the camtrack is concentric with the sha ts 51 and 58. So long as the follower I84 is trave ing in a concentric portion of the track. the hell crank I82 cannotrock about its own pivot 32a and hence serves to transrnit drive positivelv and without variations throu h the gear se ment I 85 to the hollow shaft 58. For a short distance in the portion ofthe cam track marked I9I the track approachesthe center in the direction of shaft rotation (which is clockwise as the parts are viewed in Figure 28). and this causes the segment I85 to be rocked counterclockwise relative to the arm I1 9.. This portion of the track is so contrived vthatftlie segment I85 and the hollow shaft 58 uponwhich it is made fast come to a standstill for just an instant and then pick up speed again. At the point of operation illustrated in Figure 28, the hollow shaft 18 has paused and has been again accelerated to the speed of the shaft 51. As the effective radius of the cam track increases in the ensuing operation, the hollow shaft 58 is caused to run above normal speed until the follower has again entered the concentric portion of the track.

The bed segment 29 which cooperates with the patch applier 28 is made fast upon the hollow shaft 58 and hence participates in the variations of speed which have been described. The shaft 58 has a gear I92 secured to it by means of a set screw I93. The gear I92 drives an equal gear I94 which is secured by the set screw I95 to a shaft I96. The shaft I96 has fast upon it the patch applier 28.

The details of construction of the bed segment 29 and the patch applier 28 are best illustrated in Figures 25 and 26. A collar I91 is fixed to the shaft I96 by means of a key I98 and a set screw I99. A lever 290 is supported upon a pivot pin 20I which is carried in ears 292 of the collar I91. The patch carrying segment 293 is made fast upon one end of the lever 209. The opposite end of the lever is connected by a tension coil spring 299 to a pin 205 which is secured to the collar I91. The spring tends to swing the lever 299 in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 26) and hence to carry the segment 293 upward. Such swinging movement is limited, however, by a stop screw 299 which is threaded through the tail of the lever 290 and bears against the collar I91. The normal position of the segment 293 is determined by the adjustment of the screw 299.

The securement of the segment 293 upon the lever 290 is effected by screws 291. A bar 298 is fitted into opposed channels of the lever and the segment, and the bodies of the screws 201 are passed through the segment and the bar and threaded into the lever.

The bed segment 29 comprises a work engaging segment 299 which is attached to a segmental portion 2I0a of hub member 2I0 by screws 2. The hub member 2I9 and a complementary hub member 2 I2 are formed to embrace the shaft 58 and are clamped to it by means of screws 2 I 3.

. As has been mentioned, the segment 203 picks up the patch by suction. It is illustrated in the act of picking up a patch in Figs. 25 and 26. The supply of suction to the segment 293 is controlled through valve mechanism 2I4 which is best illustrated in Figures 6 and 9 to 12, inclusive. and 14. This mechanism is mounted upon the shaft I96 and adjacent to the frame member 53.

The shaft I96 is revolubly supported in the frame member 53 between collars 2I5 and 2I9 which are secured to the shaft, respectively, by set screws 2H and 2I8. A series of screws 2I9 surround the collar 2I9 and support a stationary valve member 22I at a fixed distance from the frame member 53, holding it against rotation with the shaft I96. A rotary valve member 222 is connected to the shaft by set screws 223 and 224. A washer 225 is interposed between the members 22I and 222.

The stationary member 22I is formed in its right hand face (Fig. 9) with an arcuate groove 226, see Fig. 19 also, which is entered by a nipple 221. A suction hose 229 is connected to the external portion of the nipple 221. The rotary valve member 222 is formed with a circular opening 229 into which a nipple 239 is threaded. The diameter of the opening 229 is substantially the 12 same as the width of the groove 229 and the opening is located at the same distance from the center as the groove so that the opening travels in communication with the groove throughout a substantial portion of its travel. The washer 225 has an opening 23I in register with the opening 229 of the valve member 222.

The washer fits upon the shaft I93 and is. maintained in fixed relation to the valve member 222 by a pin 232 of the valve member which fits into a jig hole 233 of the washer.

The timing of the parts is such that suction is admitted to the opening 230 just as the segment 298 arrives in position to pick up a patch as illustrated in Figure 26 While the suction is cut off just as the suction ports 239 of the segment 293 come opposite the segment 299.

A flexible hose 235 is fitted onto the external portion of the nipple 239. The hose is wrapped around the shaft I99 for convenience of support and is fitted onto a nipple 239 (Fig. 25) of the lever 299. The nipple 239 communicates through a passage 291 with a bore 238 of the segment 203.. A series of suction ports 234 extends from the bore 239 through the face of the segment 293 near the leading end thereof.

The transference of the patch from the cut position onto the blank exclusively by suction is advantageous because it enables the patch to be cleanly handled, notwithstanding the fact that the side margins of the patch are continuously gummed from end to end. The gum applied to the side margins of the patch can be exclusively relied upon if desired for securing the patch to an envelope blank.

More desirably, however, the end margins of the patch should also be adhered to the blank. For this purpose the gum segment M (Fig. 4) through which the bottom flap gum is applied to the blank is desirably modified as compared with the prior, construction to include a pair of circumferentially extending ribs for picking up gum from the roller 29 and applying it along the blank margins which border the ends of the window opening. The gum transfer ribs referred to are made short enough in extent to avoid extending the gum stripes beyond the area which will be covered by the patch.

When the gum segment I4 is thus extended the control of the oscillation of rollers 29 and 22 is modified so as to assure contact of the segment I9 with the roller 29 throughout the desired period and withdrawal of the roller 22 from position to engage the segment It for at least the extended period during which the segment travels across the face of the roller 22.

When the pivot block I62a is adjusted along the slot I62 of the arm 49 to increase or diminish the throw of the rod 43 the consumption of patch material is correspondingly increased or diminished. It is necessary then to adjust the constant rate of feed of the web 33 from the reel 30 by the feed rollers and to adjust the rate of rotation of the gum pick-up roller 69 and the gum transfer rollers 68. For this purpose the sprockets 63 and 65 are made readily replaceable upon the shafts I52 and 99, and other sprockets are provided for substitution in the machine so that an appropriate rate of feeding can be obtained for each length of patch desired.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Pat ent is set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 7 1. Apparatus for applying patches to window openings of envelopes, comprising a feed mechanism for feeding a continuous strip of material alonga path in one plane for severance, means operating in timed relation with said feeding mechanism for severing the strip into individual patches of asize to cover a window opening; and rotary patch applying mechanism for receiving and applying the individual-patches to the envelopes over the window openings, said rotary mechanism disposed to turn about an axis parallel to the direction of strip feeding and delivering the individual patches to theenvelopes in a plane parallel to the plane of strip feeding and inv a direction at right angles to the direction. of strip feeding.

V 2. Apparatus for the continuous application of individual slips to successive moving: envelope blanks as said blanks are conveyed through an envelope-making machine, comprising feed mechanism for feeding a continuous strip of material along a path in one plane for cutting, cutting mechanism for cutting successiv slip lengths from the strip, and rotary mechanism rotative about an axis parallel to the direction of strip feeding and operable to withdraw the individual slips sidewise one by one, to convey them to the envelope-making machine and to roll the slips one by one onto the successive envelope blanks.

3. A window envelope making machine comprising, in combination, means for advancing window envelope blanks singly and at uniform speed, lining face up, in definitely timed and aligned relation, and mechanism for supplying patches to the blanks comprising means for feeding a strip of patch material laterally of the path of blank travel, cutting mechanism acting in timed relation with the blank feeding for cutting successive patches from the end of the strip with one dimension of the patch derived from the length of the strip, and a rotary patch carrier also acting in timed relation with the blank feeding for picking up each patch as it is cut and rolling it in the direction of its other dimension onto the upper face of a traveling blank.

4. A patch applier comprising in combination, a strip feeder for feeding a strip of patch material in a prescribed path, cutting mechanism acting in timed relation with the feeder for cutting successive patches from the leading end of the strip, a rotary patch carrier mounted for operation about an axis parallel to the prescribed path of strip feeding, and means operating the carrier in timed relation with the feeder for picking up each patch as it is cut and conveying it to a patch applying station.

5. Apparatus for applying patches to envelopes, comprising feed mechanism for feeding a continuous strip of material in one direction for severance, means operating in timed relation with said feeding mechanism for severin individual patches from the leading end of the strip one after another, and rotary mechanism for receiving the undivided patches and applying them to the envelopes, said rotary mechanism turning about an axis that extends parallel to the direction of travel of the patch strip and delivering the individual patches to the envelopes in a direction at right angles to said direction of travel of the patch strip.

6. Apparatus for applying patches to envelopes comprising feed mechanism for unreeling and advancing a continuous strip of patch material to form a slack loop, cutting .mechanismbeyondzthei slack pfor cutting patches of..predetermined length from the strip, a reciprocating gripper for drawing successive patch lengths outbeyond the cutting mechanism for severance; a clamp associated with the cutting mechanismfor holding a strip during-severance and thereafter" until the gripper returns and seizes the freshly cut end of the strip, and arotary patch applier for taking over control of each patch as it is cutfor rolling it onto the blank. 1

'7. Apparatus for applying'patches to envelopes comprising feed mechanism for unreelingand advancing a continuous strip'of patch material to form a slack loop, cutting mechanism beyond the slack loop for cutting patche of-predetermined length from the strip, a reciprocating-gripper for drawingsuccessive patch. lengths out beyond the cutting mechanism for severance, a clamp associated with thecutting mechanism for holding a strip during severance and thereafter until the gripper returns and seizes the freshly cut end of the strip, a rotary patch applier for taking over control of each patch as it is cut for rolling it onto the blank, and means for adjusting the range of movement of the gripper to change the length of strip fed out and severed in each cycle of operation.

8. Apparatus for applying patches to envelopes comprising feed mechanism for unreeling and advancing a continuous strip of patch material to form a slack loop, cutting mechanism beyond the slack 100p for cutting patches of predetermined length from the strip, a reciprocating gripper for drawing successive patch lengths out beyond the cutting mechanism for severance, a clamp associated with the cutting mechanism for holding a strip during severance and thereafter until the gripper returns and seizes the freshly cut end of the strip, a rotary patch applier for taking over control of each patch as it is cut for rolling it onto a blank, and means for adjusting the range and rate of movement of the gripper while maintaining the relative timing of the parts unaltered, to change the length of strip fed out and severed in each cycle of operation.

9. Apparatus for applying patches to envelopes comprising feed mechanism for unreeling a continuous strip of patch material and advancing it along a prescribed path, means for gumm'ing the opposite longitudinal margins of the strip continuously as it is advanced lengthwise, means for severing patches of predetermined length from the gummed strip, and a rotary suction patch applier, having its axis disposed parallel to said path, and acting exclusively by suction to take over control of each patch as it is severed and roll it sidewise onto a blank.

10. In a window envelope machine of the plunger type, in combination, a bottom and sealing flap gummer, a forming plunger, blank feeding mechanism comprising a conveyor for feeding the blanks past the gummer and to the plunger in definitely timed relation, and means for applying window patches to the blanks between the gummer and the plunger comprising means for feeding a strip of patch material from one side of the conveyor above and in a direction crosswise of the path of blank travel, means for severing successive patches from the leading end of the strip, and a rotary patch applier operating about an axis parallel to the direction of strip feeding for takin over control of each patch as it is severed and rolling it sidewise onto a blank.

11. In a patch mechanism, the combination with 

